What is the Future of Gender in Canadian Society?

In 100 years, will Canadians think about gender differently than we do today?

What is on the horizon for feminism? How has a heightened awareness of LGBT2Q+ experiences shifted our understanding about the nature of gender? Does the men’s rights movement reflect coherent concerns about masculine identity? What have been the ongoing consequences of movements like #metoo and #timesup?

What is unique about this discussion? In the community event space, we often talk about gender questions in 'silos': we discuss feminism, gender parity, employment equity, LGBT2+ experiences, trans rights, masculine identity, and a host of other issues almost as distinct categories. With this event, we are hoping to bring a wide range of experience and scholarship together in the public sphere to explore the idea, construct, history, and future of gender itself. This is a free and open community event. 

Join us for a discussion about the future of gender in Canada.

Location:  Central Library 251 Dundas Street, London, Ontario

Date/Time: Monday, April 9, 2018 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

The Panelists

Greta Bauer is Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Western University and an Affiliate Member of Women’s Studies & Feminist Research. Her primary research interests are in the impact of social marginalization, the broader health of sexual and gender minority communities, and in improving the ways that health researchers study the effects of biological sex and social gender. For more than a decade, she has been a leader in community-based research on LGBT health, with a strong focus on transgender health. Her work has been used in legislative or court processes with regard to Canadian Blood Services policy on gay men and blood donation, the addition of gender identity and expression to the Canadian Human Rights Code and provincial codes, and legal challenges in multiple provinces regarding surgical requirements for trans people to change sex designations on identity documents.

Michael Kehler is Research Professor in Masculinities’ Studies in Education at the University of Calgary, Werklund School of Education. His research addresses the intersection of gender and education more broadly and specifically explores masculinities, schooling, literacies, men as change agents, counter sexist politics, body image, health education, bullying, homophobia and team sport. His ongoing research centres on the ways boys and men navigate school spaces and learn what it means to be a man. Largely drawing on masculinities scholarship and feminist research, Dr. Kehler has contributed to the field of study in education by challenging more static and linear arguments that conflate gender and sex. His research questions normative masculinity and the power, privilege and positioning of men within and beyond school settings.

Nicole Nussbaum is a lawyer based in London, Ontario. She has a particular focus on, and extensive experience with, law and policy issues related to gender identity and gender expression. Formerly a sole practitioner practicing in the areas of employment and human rights, and family law, Nicole joined Legal Aid Ontario in December 2012 and assists unrepresented litigants navigate a wide variety of family law issues. She also acts as project lead of the TransForming Justice project, a legal needs assessment of Trans community in Ontarians, which is administered by the HIV & Aids Legal Clinic Ontario with funding from Legal Aid Ontario and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network. Nicole is a former president of the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health, and a past-chair and current executive member of the Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Section. Nicole holds an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School.

AnnaLise Trudell (@annatrudell) is Manager of Education, Training & Research at Anova (formerly Women’s Community House & Sexual Assault Centre London). She brings extensive analysis of sexual violence and gender dynamics through her research at Western University, and is a seasoned public educator and facilitator with over 500 presentations engaging youth, professionals & post-secondary students through public education. She supports a staff team of 8 individuals who run dozens of youth violence prevention discussion-based groups every year. In her role as Postdoctoral Fellow at Western University, she seeks to amplify the voices of sex workers, offering a harm reduction sex positive approach to looking at the ways in which digital literacy can foster social inclusion and health for sex workers.

Event poster: https://curiouspublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Gender-Curious-Public.jpg

Full event details and registration at: https://curiouspublic.com/events/gender/